Revolutionary Ministry Acts 16 Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

Consider “Ministry” Such a lame-sounding word! –So institutionalized, tame, sterilized… –So remote, clerical and soft! Not in Paul’s experience! Not in the Bible’s definition of the word! [The leader’s] responsibility is to equip God's people to do His work [diaconos=“ministry”] and build up the church, the body of Christ. Ephes. 4:12 By God's special favor and mighty power, I have been given the wonderful privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Ephes. 3:7 (NLT) For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 2 Cor. 10:4

Revolutionary Ministry Rises above personal conflict (15:36-40) Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing. Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

Some Interesting comments… v.36 “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord…” v.41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches

Syria & Cilicia

Paul’s Life 33 Conversion Damascus Gal 1:18 36 Council 4946 Arrives at Antioch Tonight’s Account The “lost” years The So-Called “Lost Years” Gal.1:21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy."

Revolutionary Ministry Rises above personal conflict (15:36-40) Executed by the youngest Christians! (v.41) –God works independent of human capability… For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—Jews first and also Gentiles. – Romans 1:16

Revolutionary Ministry Rises above personal conflict (15:36-40) Executed by the youngest Christians! (v.41) Paul and Silas went first to Derbe and then on to Lystra. There they met Timothy, a young disciple whose mother was a Jewish believer, but whose father was a Greek. Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. Acts 16:1-2 In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. Acts 16:3 Paul Despised Circumcision! I only wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.* Galatians 5:12 *Literally, “Castrate themselves…”

Revolutionary Ministry Rises above personal conflict (15:36-40) Executed by the youngest Christians! (v.41) Culturally Relevant: Engaged! (16:1-3) –Often a decision to sacrificially love. Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews… To those not having the law I became like one not having the law… To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 1 Cor. 9:19-22

Revolutionary Ministry Rises above personal conflict (15:36-40) Executed by the youngest Christians! (v.41) Culturally Relevant: Engaged! (16:1-3) Central to ministry: Discipleship. –Timothy was one of many disciples Paul developed. TimothySilasPricillaAquillaTertiusSosthenesTychicus Epaphro- ditus AristarchusMark Jesus Justus EpaphrasLukeDemasSilvanusCrescensTitusErastusTrophimusEubulusPudensLinusClaudia Artemas Onesimus Paul’s Other Disciples Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; Romans 12:10

Revolutionary Ministry Rises above personal conflict (15:36-40) Executed by the youngest Christians! (v.41) Culturally Relevant: Engaged! (16:1-3) Central to ministry: Discipleship. –Timothy was one of many disciples Paul developed. –Timothy was Paul’s most cherished disciple. “Make every effort to come to me soon” 2 Tim. 4:9

Ministry was a Revolutionary Flame throughout the entire Church! A contageous fire of the heart! –An uncompromised, unafraid, joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead! A bold, defiant movement. –Unimpressed by the folly of human ‘Empire’! The word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Greece, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. 1 Thes. 1:8 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment. 1 Thes. 1:10

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